Soccer player tried to run over ref

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QMI Agency

Nov 25, 2010

, Last Updated: 11:49 AM ET

An amateur soccer player in England was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison after trying to run down a referee with his vehicle earlier this year.

According to the U.K.'s Mirror, 28-year-old Joseph Rimmer took matters into his own hands after being shown a red card during a game in February when he drove his Range Rover onto the field and towards referee David Harkness, causing him and other soccer players to run for their lives.

Prosecutor Derek Jones said Rimmer reacted with fury telling Harkness "If you book me or send me off, you know what will happen."

But before Harkness could even show the red card, Rimmer yelled "I'm going to run you down" before walking off to another field where another game was taking place.

Rimmer was called back by fellow teammates, but he only responded with: 'Watch me run the f****** ref over'.

The Range Rover came within five yards of Harkness, who managed to escape before Rimmer started driving in circles on the field.

Court reports state that Rimmer then got out of the car and made a gun shape with his hand and shouted "I'm going to shoot you," towards Harkness.

The incident was later reported to the police and Rimmer confessed to being the driver.

Rimmer, who was 'ashamed' of the incident, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing. His lawyer also stated that Rimmer had stopped playing soccer and had no intentions of playing in the future.

Along with the prison sentence, Rimmer was also banned from driving for 12 months.